Clothespin Mandalas

The Clothespin Mandala project comments on the phenomenon of human body modification, specifically in the form of attaching clothespins to one's body. These circular pencil drawings have actual wooden clothespins secured to their periphery to muse on the contemporary penchant for hanging, piercing and tattooing the body. As such, they raise questions of identity, sexuality and gender, and investigate the connection between pain and pleasure.

Artist's Book

The Bedtime Stories are book-like objects that investigate our human sexual behavior and courtship. Each "book" closes with a brass catch in the front which the viewer is invited to open as if it were a private diary, highlighting the blurred line between the public and the private. Opening the panels of these books reveal parts of the human body and words that are sewn onto fabric in an erogenous context.

Hanging By A Thread (Film)

Synopsis:It's the future, and humanity is but a memory, existing only in scattered pieces. That is, until a pillow's needlepoint rendering of three individuals, collectively known as the Clothespin Freaks, finds the spark of life and surfaces to fulfill their destinies. Once aware of their purpose, the group begins assembling the remains of humanity they see all around them.

Multi-award winning Hanging By A Thread is the first in an upcoming trilogy of animated shorts. The second short, Meeting MacGuffin is currently in production. Expected release is in February 2017.

Hearts

Button In The Garden Of Earthly Delights, 2005-2008

Inspired by Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden Of Earthly Delights", the central characters in these acrylic paintings of futuristic verdant gardens are Button, the artist's dog, and whimsical figures made of clear plastic clothespins, doll's body parts and sewn pieces, called "Clothespin Freaks". Together, they observe surreal, quasi-botanical forms, which a closer inspection reveals them to be human body parts. The disruptive presence of mankind in "paradise" is neutralized through the body's fragmentation--a destructive process but, ultimately, one that may bring harmony to nature.

Ace Series

Clothespin Tarot, 2003-2007

The Clothespin Mandala circular drawings, each bordered by a fringe of actual wooden clothespins, evolved into the Clothespin Tarot. In these 78 pencil and watercolor drawings anthropomorphic figures called "Clothespin Freaks" are introduced and arranged in various traditional Tarot card poses. These subversive principal characters rebel against the establishment of the “suits”. Instead of swords, wands, coins and cups, the 56 Minor Clothespin Freaks make use of hatpins, darners, buttons and thimbles, alternative implements characterized by their feminist references.

Hanging By A Thread (Film)

Artist's Book

Sanguine Bedtime Stories, 2000-2002

Resembling medieval reliquaries, these book-like mixed-media objects serve as contemporary contemplation on blood and its myriad association with it like spirituality and mortality. The faded red tones staining the lace, latex and thread on the insides of these diptychs are the artist's blood. Through the process of stitching, embroidering, pinning and binding the blood-stained canvases, and through the use of iodine and gauze attention to the vulnerability as well as the regenerative abilities of our bodies is drawn.

Excerpt from "Intermedial Perception or Fluxing Across the Sensory" by Hannah Higgins.

"Similarly, Catya Plate's Sanguine Bedtime Stories was shown at the Lance Fung Gallery in New York in 2001. It occupies an intermedium between literature (in this case diary writing), sculpture and smell. Visitors smell small vials of blood; the interior receptors of memory fire off while visitors inhabit a red, living-room set whose fleshy tone and tactile walls suggest the interior of the human body. Here, perfuming and sculptural space are brought, literally, into the space of memory of the body and time structurally. It is elastic in space and time, suggesting intermedial points that span this continuum, even as the vials are separable from the room. Perfume and blood share longstanding association in occult philosophy: the combination recalls magic as well as the fundamental basis for the evocative power of perfume in the body's pheromones and scent organs."

Tarot Series

Clothespin Tarot Artist Book, 2007

Clothespin Tarot is published by the artist in 2007 in a limited edition of 50, based on the Clothespin Tarot drawings. The 86-page hardcover book with text and reproductions of the original drawings is housed in a cloth-bound slipcase with three compartments, holding the book, the card tray, and an original “Clothespin Freak” sitting figure which has movable parts and consists of custom-made clear, plastic clothespins, doll’s body parts and sewn pieces. The 78 Tarot cards, created on an Epson Inkjet Printer, are housed in the two compartments of the tray that has a Velcro closing to keep the cards in place while sliding out the tray. All elements of the work are hand made.

Covers

"The title translates as "Thus shall I write my numbers" and the book uses text and images to sum up (oops!) the oppressive experience of Germanic rectitude applied to writing numerals and doing mathematical calculations. Traumatized from an early age by her father's inflexible teaching of these skills, Plate extends personal distaste for numbers into a universal condemnation of an over-abstracted, over-regimented, technology-laden world, symbolized by contorting and dismembering her body to correspond with the shape of the numerals. As a complete innumerate lacking even an O-level in maths I can sympathize. Effectively presented as an oversized arithmetic exercise book with photocopied content and laminated cover".

So Soll Ich Meine Zahlen Schreiben, Cover

So Soll Ich Meine Zahlen Schreiben, Page 1

So Soll Ich Meine Zahlen Schreiben, Page 14

Artist's Book

Sanguine Bedtime Stories, 2000-2002

Resembling medieval reliquaries, these book-like mixed-media objects serve as contemporary contemplation on blood and its myriad association with it like spirituality and mortality. The faded red tones staining the lace, latex and thread on the insides of these diptychs are the artist's blood. Through the process of stitching, embroidering, pinning and binding the blood-stained canvases, and through the use of iodine and gauze attention to the vulnerability as well as the regenerative abilities of our bodies is drawn.

Excerpt from "Intermedial Perception or Fluxing Across the Sensory" by Hannah Higgins.

"Similarly, Catya Plate's Sanguine Bedtime Stories was shown at the Lance Fung Gallery in New York in 2001. It occupies an intermedium between literature (in this case diary writing), sculpture and smell. Visitors smell small vials of blood; the interior receptors of memory fire off while visitors inhabit a red, living-room set whose fleshy tone and tactile walls suggest the interior of the human body. Here, perfuming and sculptural space are brought, literally, into the space of memory of the body and time structurally. It is elastic in space and time, suggesting intermedial points that span this continuum, even as the vials are separable from the room. Perfume and blood share longstanding association in occult philosophy: the combination recalls magic as well as the fundamental basis for the evocative power of perfume in the body's pheromones and scent organs."

Meeting MacGuffin

Synopsis:In a post-apocalyptic future where humanity has fallen apart, a group of scientists and an animated sign complete the construction of a new human race and meet a groundhog climatologist who prepares them for their mission to restore balance to the decimated Earth.

Meeting MacGuffin is the sequel to the multi-award-winning animated stop-motion film Hanging By A Thread (2013), and second in a trilogy of shorts, all written, animated and directed by Catya Plate.

Animated gif, Meeting MacGuffin: LF and Homeys about to step through a portal.

Cards

Clothespin Tarot, 2003-2007

The Clothespin Mandala circular drawings, each bordered by a fringe of actual wooden clothespins, evolved into theClothespin Tarot. In these 78 pencil and watercolor drawings anthropomorphic figures called "Clothespin Freaks" are introduced and arranged in various traditional Tarot card poses. These subversive principal characters rebel against the establishment of the “suits”. Instead of swords, wands, coins and cups, the 56 Minor Clothespin Freaks make use of hatpins, darners, buttons and thimbles, alternative implements characterized by their feminist references.

Brains

Button In The Garden Of Earthly Delights, 2005-2008

Inspired by Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden Of Earthly Delights", the central characters in these acrylic paintings of futuristic verdant gardens are Button, the artist's dog, and whimsical figures made of clear plastic clothespins, doll's body parts and sewn pieces, called "Clothespin Freaks". Together, they observe surreal, quasi-botanical forms, which a closer inspection reveals them to be human body parts. The disruptive presence of mankind in "paradise" is neutralized through the body's fragmentation--a destructive process but, ultimately, one that may bring harmony to nature.

Lub Dub

Anatomic Relationships, 1995-2004

The Anatomic Relationships paintings are a series of diptychs, triptychs and polyptychs. Each painting depicts a specific isolated, dissected human body part from a medical book in painstaking detail and in an oversized fashion on canvas with acrylic paint. The words in the paintings create a dialogue between the individual panels as well as between the panels and the viewer. Literally speaking, the subcutaneous parts are out in the open, but in a deeper sense its cultural and social taboos, like death and sexuality, are being uncovered.

Sight

Anatomic Relationships, 1995-2004

The Anatomic Relationships are a series of large, mixed media, multi-paneled, interactive paintings that engage different human senses in the process of perception.These paintings can be smelled, touched, tasted, heard and otherwise perceived. They challenge viewers and force them to break away from the conventional way of experiencing art.

Feet

Button In The Garden Of Earthly Delights, 2005-2008

Inspired by Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden Of Earthly Delights", the central characters in these acrylic paintings of futuristic verdant gardens are Button, the artist's dog, and whimsical figures made of clear plastic clothespins, doll's body parts and sewn pieces, called "Clothespin Freaks". Together, they observe surreal, quasi-botanical forms, which a closer inspection reveals them to be human body parts. The disruptive presence of mankind in "paradise" is neutralized through the body's fragmentation--a destructive process but, ultimately, one that may bring harmony to nature.

Bedtime Stories

The Bedtime Stories are book-like objects that investigate our human sexual behavior and courtship. Each "book" closes with a brass catch in the front which the viewer is invited to open as if it were a private diary, highlighting the blurred line between the public and the private. Openingthe panels of these books reveal parts of the human body and words that are sewn onto fabric in an erogenous context.

Anatomical

Anatomic Relationships, 1995-2004

The Anatomic Relationships paintings are a series of diptychs, triptychs and polyptychs. Each painting depicts a specific isolated, dissected human body part from a medical book in painstaking detail and in an oversized fashion on canvas with acrylic paint. The words in the paintings create a dialogue between the individual panels as well as between the panels and the viewer. The numbers refer to the classification system used in medical books. Literally speaking, the subcutaneous parts are out in the open, but in a deeper sense its cultural and social taboos, like death and sexuality, are being uncovered.

Smell

Anatomic Relationships, 1995-2004

The Anatomic Relationships are a series of large, mixed media, multi-paneled, interactive paintings that engage different human senses in the process of perception. These paintings can be smelled, touched, tasted, heard and otherwise perceived. They challenge viewers and force them to break away from the conventional way of experiencing art.

Sound

Anatomic Relationships, 1995-2004

The Anatomic Relationships are a series of large, mixed media, multi-paneled, interactive paintings that engage different human senses in the process of perception.These paintings can be smelled, touched, tasted, heard and otherwise perceived. They challenge viewers and force them to break away from the conventional way of experiencing art.

Ars Moriendi

Ars Moriendi in Numbers, 1993-1994

The Ars Moriendi in Numbers series (Latin for 'Art of Dying...') consists of nine unstretched and embroidered canvases which hang from the wall like shrouds. This work is inspired by the 15th Century Ars Moriendi, the so-called European Book of The Dead, which consists of literary and visual instructions for the dying individual to prepare the soul for impending death. In these paintings I juxtapose the spiritual wisdom from the Middle Ages with our modern society's obsession with technology and immortality, which is symbolised by the Hindu-Arabic numbers. The result is an amalgamation of cross-cultural burial rites with personal images of death hinting that our century is not so different from the Middle Ages. Today's AIDS epidemic might pick out anyone as its victim, just as the Plague did then.

Breath

Button In The Garden Of Earthly Delights, 2005-2008

Inspired by Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden Of Earthly Delights", the central characters in these acrylic paintings of futuristic verdant gardens are Button, the artist's dog, and whimsical figures made of clear plastic clothespins, doll's body parts and sewn pieces, called "Clothespin Freaks". Together, they observe surreal, quasi-botanical forms, which a closer inspection reveals them to be human body parts. The disruptive presence of mankind in "paradise" is neutralized through the body's fragmentation--a destructive process but, ultimately, one that may bring harmony to nature.

The Reading

The Reading, 2010USA, stop-motion animation, miniDV, 22m, 4:3

Synopsis: A woman is awakened from a slumber and summoned to the door by a mysterious visitor to attend a most extraordinary "Reading".The Reading is Catya Plate's first stop-motion animated short film. It is based on her Clothespin Tarot Artist Book and her "Clothespin Freaks" characters that she has created over a period of ten years.

Animated gif, The Reading: Finger puppet is being chased by the Page of Hatpins.

Talk To Me

Anatomic Relationships, 1995-2004

The Anatomic Relationships paintings are a series of diptychs, triptychs and polyptychs. Each painting depicts a specific isolated, dissected human body part from a medical book in painstaking detail and in an oversized fashion on canvas with acrylic paint. The words in the paintings create a dialogue between the individual panels as well as between the panels and the viewer. The numbers refer to the classification system used in medical books. Literally speaking, the subcutaneous parts are out in the open, but in a deeper sense its cultural and social taboos, like death and sexuality, are being uncovered.

Ten Commandments

Anatomic Relationships, 1995-2004

The Anatomic Relationships paintings are a series of diptychs, triptychs and polyptychs. Each painting depicts a specific isolated, dissected human body part from a medical book in painstaking detail and in an oversized fashion on canvas with acrylic paint. The words in the paintings create a dialogue between the individual panels as well as between the panels and the viewer. The numbers refer to the classification system used in medical books. Literally speaking, the subcutaneous parts are out in the open, but in a deeper sense its cultural and social taboos, like death and sexuality, are being uncovered.

Touch

Anatomic Relationships, 1995-2004

The Anatomic Relationships are a series of large, mixed media, multi-paneled, interactive paintings that engage different human senses in the process of perception.These paintings can be smelled, touched, tasted, heard and otherwise perceived. They challenge viewers and force them to break away from the conventional way of experiencing art.

Tribulations Of Barbie

Anatomic Relationships, 1995-2004

The Anatomic Relationships paintings are a series of diptychs, triptychs and polyptychs. Each painting depicts a specific isolated, dissected human body part from a medical book in painstaking detail and in an oversized fashion on canvas with acrylic paint. The words in the paintings create a dialogue between the individual panels as well as between the panels and the viewer. The numbers refer to the classification system used in medical books. Literally speaking, the subcutaneous parts are out in the open, but in a deeper sense its cultural and social taboos, like death and sexuality, are being uncovered.

Tribulations Of Barbie®, Or The Way To A Man's Heart Is Through His Stomach, 1996Acrylic, mixed media and Barbie doll heads84 inches x 42 inches x 4 inches (closed panels)

Tribulations Of Barbie®, Or The Way To A Man's Heart Is Through His Stomach, 1996Acrylic, mixed media and Barbie doll heads84 inches x 84 inches x 2 inches (open panels)

Hive Mind

In the Clothespin Freaks Cloning Sculptures the "Clothespin Freaks" comment on cloning, wombs, electricity and some other quasi science, with some physiological bits and pieces added for good measure.

Clothespin Mandalas

The Clothespin Mandala project comments on the phenomenon of human body modification, specifically in the form of attaching clothespins to one's body. These circular pencil drawings have actual wooden clothespins secured to their periphery to muse on the contemporary penchant for hanging, piercing and tattooing the body. As such, they raise questions of identity, sexuality and gender, and investigate the connection between pain and pleasure.

Clothespin Freaks Portraits

"The 'Clothespin Freaks Portraits' consist of oval-shape embroidered portraits on fabric, depicting god-like characters that can be seen as protectors of body parts and organs such a windpipe, foot, kidney, brain, pelvis, etc. In an ironic way, these so-called freaks, having a sacred quality to them, similar to patron saints, are actually more of a memorial or tribute, like a headstone. For example, the dates "16638-16792", embroidered at the bottom of "Kidney Spotter", can be seen as demarcating the dates this particular freak lived. These portraits are both icon and memorial, bridging our desires (hope) and losses (fears)."

Womb

Button In The Garden Of Earthly Delights, 2005-2008

Inspired by Hieronymus Bosch's "The Garden Of Earthly Delights", the central characters in these acrylic paintings of futuristic verdant gardens are Button, the artist's dog, and whimsical figures made of clear plastic clothespins, doll's body parts and sewn pieces, called "Clothespin Freaks". Together, they observe surreal, quasi-botanical forms, which a closer inspection reveals them to be human body parts. The disruptive presence of mankind in "paradise" is neutralized through the body's fragmentation--a destructive process but, ultimately, one that may bring harmony to nature.

Greening The Numbers

In Greening The Numbers each life-size, paper, resin-covered Hindu-Arabic number is wired to a metal fence framing. Each of these paper numbers depicts a human body in motion that adapts to its specific numerical shape. The human body, covered with a skin of wallpaper flowers, walks, jumps, crawls, and runs into the numbers in order to reconcile the nature of the concrete body with the nature of pure abstraction. These bodies are missing their heads because this is where the viewer's interaction comes into the picture. Just like in an amusement park, where participants put their heads through cut-out oval of a mostly comic cardboard personality, here too, viewers are invited to "complete the picture" through proactive engagement.